Example of part of my writing template for a new framework SEF

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The writing template is designed to be used in conjunction with the new evaluation schedule. It will give you straightforward and easily understandable advice as to how to construct your SEF. The rest of the template is set out in a similar way and in following this advice and template, you will have a first draft of your SEF. Paul will then annotate to show how this can be refined and improved to produce a quality SEF. This can be easily updated on a regular basis and used for school improvement and external visits for many years to come.

Here’s a taster of the advice contained therein.

4. Quality of teaching.

Start by judging where you feel this is and use the whole section to back that judgement up with quantitative evidence. No statement without evidence to back them up should be your mantra. If you say that CPD has happened, justify what has happened by quantitative, monitored evidence that it has had an impact in the classroom.

Clearly state what your own monitoring and observations show about the quality of teaching. Include data on the numbers and percentages of outstanding/good/satisfactory teaching since you came and how this is improving over time. If there is/was inadequate teaching show you are addressing/have addressed this ruthlessly.

Make sure you are providing quantitative evidence for every sentence in the evaluation schedule descriptor and that you are not just describing what you think is/should be happening. Good examples can really help to give colour.

Don’t miss the learning well “across the curriculum” and here’s where you can evidence how you achieve that in numeracy and especially literacy.

Don’t miss explaining clearly how you ensure the pupils learn how to read well and how you have embedded synthetic phonics. Give data here on the progress of interventions such as reading schemes as evidence that any pupils who may be at risk of falling behind are supported.

Use pupil/parent and carer comments, any outside survey information (e.g. Kirkland Rowell) and questionnaire data to back your judgement.

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What We Do

Talk for Teaching leads to improved quality of teaching.

QA South-West has helped many schools to improve the quality of their teaching. It's a notoriously difficult thing to do, but through teachers and TAs reflecting together and pooling their collective intelligence, it can be done. 'Talk for Teaching' involves staff watching other teacher's lessons together with colleagues.

We can be there at the start to demonstrate prompts, advise on positive language and to set school protocols, but the process is easily sustainable. Staff soon begin to take ownership of both the process and their own Professional Development. Teachers improve their own teaching and TAs improve their own work. In Dylan William's words; 'they get 'better' at what they do by seeing the work of others and talking about it, as it happens'. The improvements over a year are clearly measurable and the comments from schools and teachers who have participated in this process are just terrific. The impact of the process can be measured by hard edged outcomes: the quality of teaching, learning and assessment being judged to be good, or outstanding, in the school.

QA South-West works with MATS, academy chains, co-operative trusts, learning communities and over 100 individual schools, colleges and Academies. There have been some notable successes for those schools during their inspections and Principals and headteachers, together with staff in the school, felt an awful lot more comfortable about the process!

This was even recognised by Ofsted in one report from Barnsole Primary , a large 3-form entry primary in Gillingham where the team found this, as the school improved rapidly from RI to Outstanding, with Talk for Teaching at the heart of its improvement process:

"Together with the deputy headteacher, the headteacher has led the ‘Talk for Teaching’ programme that has been an instrumental part of transforming the quality of teaching over time. The high-quality teaching in this school now leads to outstanding outcomes for pupils. The school has used this professional development programme to involve leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, governors and other members of the school staff in observing teaching together. They have detailed conversations about the effectiveness of what is seen and how it can be improved. Staff discuss the quality of teaching regularly and freely share ideas about what works well with colleagues."

It was a tremendous pleasure and privilege to work with all the staff and leaders at Barnsole and QA South-West congratulates Sean McKeown and his excellent team on a remarkably rapid transformation of the quality teaching in the school to outstanding.

Do get in touch; call any time. 07808 793673

Paul and QA South-West help schools across England to improve. Distance help is quite possible, especially with SEF support, though face-to-face help is much better, for staff, SLT and headteacher CPD.